Print professionals from across the UK and beyond descended on the NEC in Birmingham for the annual Sign and Digital UK show at the end of April, giving businesses from every facet of the industry a chance to demonstrate their capabilities, network with partners and unveil new innovations.

This year, Roland DG UK raised the bar with its biggest technology showcase yet: An impressive demonstration of 15 machines and countless applications, offering visitors the chance to see the full range of Roland DG print solutions. This included the show-stealing VersaUV industrial device, a selection of industry-leading print-and-cut machines and a host of exciting new innovations.

Roland’s Sales Development Manager James Johnson was delighted with delegates' reaction at Sign and Digital UK.“Our VersaUV industrial device was the machine that caught customers’ eyes and sparked their imaginations," he says. "With the flexibility to continuously print on anything up to 200mm high using a conveyor belt or flatbed, or to print onto very thin material using its roll to roll system, we demonstrated what an amazing hybrid printer it truly is.”Roland DG UK dedicated an entire quadrant of its stand to innovative personalisation solutions including three VersaUV LEF flatbed printers, the MPX-95 impact engraver and the compact VersaSTUDIO BN-20 desktop inkjet printer/cutter.Simon Wilcox, Retail & Consumer BDM for Roland DG UK, personifies Roland’s dedication to serving customers searching for the right tools to give them a competitive edge in this fertile new market.

He comments: “Product personalisation is continuing to grow strongly – driven by increasing consumer awareness, the rapidly evolving retail environment and the need of brands to create experiences that engage their customers. Roland printing, engraving and cutting technologies form the production base of this global change in consumer demand."Staying true to its customer-first ethos, Roland was joined on its Sign and Digital UK stand by proud Roland users from a broad range of sectors. Print veteran, Pete 'Big Pete' Colman, was on hand to give advice – not only on using Roland products, but on every aspect of running a successful print business. Alex Liggett of The Vinyl Guys in Wolverhampton was a source of inspiration as he shared the story of his business's rapid growth from a spare bedroom to a full 950sq ft workshop, with further expansion planned for mid-2018.

"It was great to meet the whole Roland team and see the stand attract such a huge number of business owners looking to expand their operations," says Alex. "Talking about the benefits of Roland was easy. I was able to give real-life examples of how my Roland changed my business and how quickly it returned my investment, producing a wide range of products."In addition, Joe McNamara, Head of Paint & Graphics at Renault Sport Formula OneTM Team, explained to visitors why Roland machines are his first choice when it comes to precision quality. The motorsport team also sponsored a competition open to all visitors to Roland’s stand, offering the first prize of a trip for two to the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.“The response from visitors was amazing and they were really inspired by the range of products and print solutions on display,” says Rob Goleniowski, Roland DG’s Head of Sales.

“It was also a great experience for us and we got a lot of feedback from customers around the opportunities they’re pursuing. We’re already building their suggestions into our plans for the Roland DG Academy to ensure that we’re offering training courses that fit their needs.

"Overall, we were delighted to see such a high percentage of people looking to invest in products to help grow their business and glad that they see Roland as the perfect partner.”

Even as the Sign and Digital UK expo concludes for another year, Roland DG isn't resting: preparations are in place for the FESPA Global Print Expo 2018, the largest international wide format print event, in mid-May. Visit Roland DG on stand 2.2 B20 from May 15th to 18th 2018 in Berlin, Germany.